Alcon Entertainment , the production company behind such features as "The Blind Side" and "Beautiful Creatures," has launched a music division. The move is designed to help the banner contain costs on music licensing and diversify its revenue base by owning more of the underlying music in its films. The plan is particularly important as Alcon expands into TV production. Scott Parish, Alcon's chief operating officer and chief financial officer, noted the launch of the division...

Winter the Dolphin may be back on the big screen with Alcon Entertainment moving toward producing a sequel to its 2011 family drama "Dolphin Tale." Charles Martin Smith, who directed "Dolphin Tale," is on board to helm the sequel from his own script, according to Alcon co-topper Andrew Kosove. He told Variety that the project has not yet been greenlit because deals for the cast and for financing haven't concluded. "Dolphin Tale" generated a solid $72 million at the U.S. box office...

David Fierson has been tapped by Anonymous Content as head of business operations for the company. Fierson comes to Anonymous from Alcon Entertainment , where he served as head of the business and legal affairs department. "I couldn't be more excited to join the team at Anonymous Content," Fierson said. "The quality of the work that Anonymous is presently both creating and representing is extraordinary. More importantly, its vision for the...

Christopher Nolan and producing partner Emma Thomas will exec produce cinematographer Wally Pfister's untitled directorial debut, which Alcon Entertainment is financing and producing. The screenplay, written by Jack Paglen for Pfister to direct, was developed by Annie Marter and sold as a pitch to Straight Up Films. Marisa Polvino and Kate Cohen will produce via Straight Up along with Marter and Alcon toppers...

Hugh Jackman 's " Prisoners " is making a break at the U.S. box office. The Warner Bros. drama, directed by Denis Villeneuve, should expect north of $20 million this weekend for Jackman's eighth No. 1 movie of all-time. According to early estimates, the R-rated "Prisoners" is lining up $8 million in ticket sales Friday and approximately $21 million through Sunday -- not bad for a movie that cost only $30 million. "Prisoners" tells the story of a...

Melissa Leo will join Hugh Jackman in Alcon Entertainment's thriller "Prisoners," to be directed by Denis Villeneuve ("Incendies"). Production is scheduled to begin early next year with Alcon is targeting a fall 2013 release through its output deal with Warner Bros. Script, penned by Aaron Guzikowski ("Contraband"), revolves around a small-town carpenter whose young daughter and best friend are kidnapped. After the cops fail to find them, he takes...

On the eve of the Toronto Intl. Film Festilval, Alcon Entertainment and "Prisoners" director Denis Villeneuve have closed a two-year overall deal. The deal calls covers Villeneuve's writing and directing services over that period and can be extended by any period during which the director is directing a film. It also has a "blind script" commitment providing Villeneuve the time to both write and direct a feature project. Alcon said its execs and the director are...

Alden Ehrenreich has replaced Jack O'Connell as the male lead in supernatural love story "Beautiful Creatures" due to scheduling conflicts for O'Connell. Alcon Entertainment made the announcement Wednesday. Filming will begin later this month in and around New Orleans. Ehrenreich and Alice Englert will portray star-crossed teenage lovers, a local boy and a mysterious new girl who uncover dark secrets about their families, their...

David Fierson has been tapped by Anonymous Content as head of business operations for the company. Fierson comes to Anonymous from Alcon Entertainment , where he served as head of the business and legal affairs department. "I couldn't be more excited to join the team at Anonymous Content," Fierson said. "The quality of the work that Anonymous is presently both creating and representing is extraordinary. More importantly, its vision for the...

Winter the Dolphin may be back on the big screen with Alcon Entertainment moving toward producing a sequel to its 2011 family drama "Dolphin Tale." Charles Martin Smith, who directed "Dolphin Tale," is on board to helm the sequel from his own script, according to Alcon co-topper Andrew Kosove. He told Variety that the project has not yet been greenlit because deals for the cast and for financing haven't concluded. "Dolphin Tale" generated a solid $72 million at the U.S. box office...

Aiming to start a young-adult franchise, Alcon Entertainment has acquired screen rights to "Icons," the forthcoming futuristic novel from Margaret Stohl, and will produce the feature adaptation with Erwin Stoff. Project reteams Alcon, Stohl and Stoff on the heels of wrapping production on an adaptation of fantasy-romancer "Beautiful Creatures." Stoff is a producer and Stohl is co-author of the original novel. Stoff, who brought in "Icons," is...

Melissa Leo will join Hugh Jackman in Alcon Entertainment's thriller "Prisoners," to be directed by Denis Villeneuve ("Incendies"). Production is scheduled to begin early next year with Alcon is targeting a fall 2013 release through its output deal with Warner Bros. Script, penned by Aaron Guzikowski ("Contraband"), revolves around a small-town carpenter whose young daughter and best friend are kidnapped. After the cops fail to find them, he takes...

On the eve of the Toronto Intl. Film Festilval, Alcon Entertainment and "Prisoners" director Denis Villeneuve have closed a two-year overall deal. The deal calls covers Villeneuve's writing and directing services over that period and can be extended by any period during which the director is directing a film. It also has a "blind script" commitment providing Villeneuve the time to both write and direct a feature project. Alcon said its execs and the director are...

Aiming to start a young-adult franchise, Alcon Entertainment has acquired screen rights to "Icons," the forthcoming futuristic novel from Margaret Stohl, and will produce the feature adaptation with Erwin Stoff. Project reteams Alcon, Stohl and Stoff on the heels of wrapping production on an adaptation of fantasy-romancer "Beautiful Creatures." Stoff is a producer and Stohl is co-author of the original novel. Stoff, who brought in "Icons," is...

Hugh Jackman 's " Prisoners " is making a break at the U.S. box office. The Warner Bros. drama, directed by Denis Villeneuve, should expect north of $20 million this weekend for Jackman's eighth No. 1 movie of all-time. According to early estimates, the R-rated "Prisoners" is lining up $8 million in ticket sales Friday and approximately $21 million through Sunday -- not bad for a movie that cost only $30 million. "Prisoners" tells the story of a...

Christopher Nolan and producing partner Emma Thomas will exec produce cinematographer Wally Pfister's untitled directorial debut, which Alcon Entertainment is financing and producing. The screenplay, written by Jack Paglen for Pfister to direct, was developed by Annie Marter and sold as a pitch to Straight Up Films. Marisa Polvino and Kate Cohen will produce via Straight Up along with Marter and Alcon toppers...

Alcon Entertainment , the production company behind such features as "The Blind Side" and "Beautiful Creatures," has launched a music division. The move is designed to help the banner contain costs on music licensing and diversify its revenue base by owning more of the underlying music in its films. The plan is particularly important as Alcon expands into TV production. Scott Parish, Alcon's chief operating officer and chief financial officer, noted the launch of the division...

Alden Ehrenreich has replaced Jack O'Connell as the male lead in supernatural love story "Beautiful Creatures" due to scheduling conflicts for O'Connell. Alcon Entertainment made the announcement Wednesday. Filming will begin later this month in and around New Orleans. Ehrenreich and Alice Englert will portray star-crossed teenage lovers, a local boy and a mysterious new girl who uncover dark secrets about their families, their...